διακρίνω
CONTEND (-ING)
1. athleo (ἀθλέω, 118), “to engage in a contest” (cf. Eng., “athlete”), “to contend in public games,” is used in 2 Tim. 2:5, rv, “contend in the games,” for the kjv, “strive for the masteries.” See strive.¶
Note: In 1 Cor. 9:25, the verb agonizomai, “to strive,” is used in the same connection, rv, “striveth in the games.” Cf. No. 3.
2. diakrino (διακρίνω, 1252), lit., “to separate throughout or wholly” (dia, “asunder,” krino, “to judge,” from a root kri, meaning “separation”), then, to distinguish, decide, signifies, in the middle voice, “to separate oneself from, or to contend with,” as did the circumcisionists with Peter, Acts 11:2; as did Michael with Satan, Jude 9. See rv marg. of v. 22, where the thought may be that of differing in opinion. See differ, discern, doubt, judge, partial, stagger, waver.
3. epagonizomai (ἐπαγωνίζομαι, 1864) signifies “to contend about a thing, as a combatant” (epi, “upon or about,” intensive, agon, “a contest”), “to contend earnestly,” Jude 3. The word “earnestly” is added to convey the intensive force of the preposition.
¶
DECIDE, DECISION
A. Verb.
diakrino (διακρίνω, 1252) primarily signifies “to make a distinction,” hence, “to decide, especially judicially, to decide a dispute, to give judgment,” 1 Cor. 6:5, kjv, “judge”; rv, “decide,” where church members are warned against procuring decisions by litigation in the world’s law courts. See contend.
B. Nouns.
1. diagnosis (διάγνωσις, 1233), transliterated in English, primarily denotes “a discrimination” (dia, “apart,” ginosko, “to know”), hence, “a judicial decision,” which is its meaning in Acts 25:21, rv, “for the decision of the Emperor” (kjv, “hearing”).¶
Note: Cf. diaginosko, “to distinguish,” Acts 23:15, “to judge” (kjv, “enquire”), or “determine,” 24:22, rv (kjv, “know the uttermost of”).¶
2. diakrisis (διάκρισις, 1253), “a distinguishing,” and so “a decision” (see A), signifies “discerning” in 1 Cor. 12:10; Heb. 5:14, lit., “unto a discerning of good and evil” (translated “to discern”); in Rom. 14:1, “not to (doubtful) disputations” is more literally rendered in the margin “not for decisions (of doubts).” See discern. Cf. judge.¶ In the Sept., Job 37:16.¶
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 125.
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diakrino
[1359] διακρίνω diakrinō 19× to separate, sever; to make a distinction or difference, Acts 15:9; 1 Cor. 11:29; to make to differ, distinguish, prefer, confer a superiority, 1 Cor. 4:7; to examine, scrutinize, estimate, 1 Cor. 11:31; 14:29; to discern, discriminate, Mt. 16:3; to judge, to decide a cause, 1 Cor. 6:5; to dispute, contend, Acts 11:2; Jude 9; to make a distinction mentally, Jas. 2:4; Jude 22; in NT to hesitate, be in doubt, doubt, Mt. 21:21; Mk. 11:23 [1252] See distinguish; doubt; evaluate; judge; waver.
William D. Mounce, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 1120.
